Carew & Young Back - Gabby Out For Blues

Gerard Houllier says that both John Carew and Luke Young should be back for the Villa v Blues derby this weekend.

The Villa boss explained:

'John Carew seems to have recovered from his flu. 'We need everyone. Not having Gabby, it is good to have John and Emile. Marc Albrighton will be suspended. The boy is devastated - very downhearted. Luke Young should be involved.'

Meanwhile Gabby Agbonlahor is still not fit enough to return and Stiliyan Petrov is expected to be out for a few months with a knee injury. On the plus side, the Villa captain won`t need surgery as first feared.

Like most fans I normally can at least think of alternatives and and have my preferences. At the moment, despite the lack of goals, my real concern is the lack of quality players comfortable on the ball in either the holding or creative central midfield positions. A Cowans, a Mortimer, or failing that a Kevin Richardson or Des Bremner would be nice.
Milner's mercurial performances compensated for the loss of Barry last season - but even he was rather good at giving the ball away- the difference was he was also very good at winning it straight back. But with no Barry now and not even a consistently decent but seldom better Petrov, we are struggling and in danger of having little control of the midfield and possession - instead relying on the strengths of our wide play.
We seem stuck for any options. Sidwell can't do keep ball. Reo-Coker and Bannan maybe best, but the former loses it toomuch and Bannan is a bit lightweight and perhaps best further forward. Hopefully I've just forgotten some amazing player who can fulfill the role?

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